Friday

Oct 29, 2010 at 12:01 AMJul 27, 2012 at 5:37 AM

The woman charged in the fatal accident on Tomstown Road in July was issued two traffic citations and urged not to drive just hours before the deadly crash, according to information from Pennsylvania State Police.

Magisterial District Judge Kelly Rock and Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Tom Pinkerton confirmed this morning that traffic citations were filed against Mary E. Bonebrake, 53. Addresses in both Mont Alto and Greencastle have been given for Bonebrake on various charging documents.

Bonebrake was charged Wednesday with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence and other offenses in the accident that killed Angalena K. Robinson, 16, of 8586 Capital Hill Road, Waynesboro.

Robinson was pronounced dead at 1:50 p.m. at the scene of the July 29 accident on Tomstown Road near the intersection with Mentzer Gap Road in Quincy Township.

The woman charged in the fatal accident on Tomstown Road in July was issued two traffic citations and urged not to drive just hours before the deadly crash, according to information from Pennsylvania State Police.

Magisterial District Judge Kelly Rock and Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Tom Pinkerton confirmed this morning that traffic citations were filed against Mary E. Bonebrake, 53. Addresses in both Mont Alto and Greencastle have been given for Bonebrake on various charging documents.

Bonebrake was charged Wednesday with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence and other offenses in the accident that killed Angalena K. Robinson, 16, of 8586 Capital Hill Road, Waynesboro.

Robinson was pronounced dead at 1:50 p.m. at the scene of the July 29 accident on Tomstown Road near the intersection with Mentzer Gap Road in Quincy Township.

Bonebrake was driving south on Tomstown Road when her Pontiac GT crossed the center line and hit a northbound Mitsubishi Eclipse driven by Chelsey Elizabeth Nichols head on. Robinson was in the front passenger seat of the Eclipse.

Both teens had just completed their junior year at Waynesboro Area Senior High School. Nichols suffered moderate injuries in the accident.

The traffic citations charging Bonebrake with careless driving and failure to give half of the road to oncoming traffic were issued around 10:20 that morning, Pinkerton said.

What happened

Bonebrake was seen driving recklessly the morning of July 29 by another driver who called police, Pinkerton said. The driver followed Bonebrake to her home in Mont Alto, ensuring she returned safely and flagged down police as he left, Pinkerton said.

The troopers found Bonebrake under the influence of “something,” Pinkerton said. Because of the time that elapsed between the call from the other driver and police arrival — about 30 minutes — Bonebrake could not be charged with driving under the influence, Pinkerton added.

Pinkerton noted a family member was told that Bonebrake, who had an appointment later that day, should not be driving. The family member did take Bonebrake to and from her appointment, said Pinkerton, who did not specify the nature of the appointment.

A short time after returning from her appointment — and just minutes before the deadly accident — Bonebrake left her home in her vehicle, hitting her neighbors fence on the way, Pinkerton said.

Charges

Bonebrake was arraigned Wednesday morning on charges of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, DUI, failure to drive in the lane, careless driving and reckless driving.

Blood tests confirmed that Bonebrake was under the influence of five controlled substances at the time of the accident and several other drivers told police she was driving erratically prior to the crash, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed in Rock’s office.

Blood tests showed that Bonebrake was under the influence of Butalbital, Oxazepam, Temazepam, Clonazepam and Amino Clonazepam at the time of the accident, police said.

According to online sources, a Butalbital and acetaminophen combination is a pain reliever and relaxant; Oxazepam is used to relieve symptoms of anxiety, including anxiety caused by depression, and the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal; Temazepam is used to treat insomnia; and Clonazepam is used alone or together with other medicines to treat seizure disorders and panic disorders.

“The combination of these drugs rendered the defendant incapable of safe driving,” the affidavit says.

She was released on $25,000 personal recognizance bond. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 2.

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